Five new elected members join Security Council

Five new nations officially began two-year terms on the UN Security Council on Tuesday – Algeria, Guyana, the Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone and Slovenia.

They were elected to serve in June last year, and they are replacing Albania, Brazil, Gabon, Ghana and the United Arab Emirates who ended their terms on 31 December.

Five permanent members sit around the iconic horseshoe table in New York, China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The ten non-permanent members, selected to provide regional balance, are elected by the General Assembly which is made up of all 193 UN Member States.

France serves as president of the Security Council for the month of January, and it is expected that the Israel-Palestine crisis and war in Gaza will continue to be a prime focus for ambassadors.

The quarterly open debate on the situation in the Middle East is due to be elevated to ministerial level with the French foreign affairs minister expected to chair the meeting on 23 January.

Watch the flag installation ceremony for the new Council members including remarks from ambassadors, below:

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https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/01/1145242